Architect Nona Yehia strikes a profile while delivering remarks at the opening of Jackson’s Vertical Harvest greenhouse May 26, a building that her firm designed. Described as three greenhouses stacked atop one another, the building cultivates on a tenth of an acre what a farm would on five acres. The low-profit business also trains and employs special-needs residents who are an integral part of the company’s social and business models. (Angus M. Thuermer Jr/WyoFile)

The glass façade of the Vertical Harvest greenhouse in Jackson allows the sun and shade to accent architect Nona Yehia as she delivers remarks during the building’s opening May 26. Yehia, a partner in E/Ye Design that created the building, described it as a “dream project” that will respond to numerous community needs. Activist Penny McBride, dedicated to sustainable-community projects, developed the building and operation with Yehia, greenhouse engineer Thomas Larssen and others. The building utilizes a left-over 0.1-acre lot adjacent to the town’s parking garage and will supply residents with fresh produce — more nutritious and tasty than what’s frequently trucked into the mountain valley. The business operates as a low-profit LLC “with a nonprofit soul,” Yehia said. Importantly, Vertical Harvest employs special-needs residents, providing 160 hours of work and job training a week in fields ranging from cultivation to retail management. Glass walls expose the building’s industrial mechanics, including a series of constantly moving hydroponic growing trays. The building’s appearance changes throughout the day as light plays through and off its glass walls.

Angus M. Thuermer Jr. is the natural resources reporter for WyoFile. He is a veteran Wyoming reporter and editor with more than 35 years experience in Wyoming. Contact him at angus@wyofile.com or (307)...

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  1. This is some amazing work. Vertical Farming and Farming Vertically are not exactly the same. Universal Sustainability is at the core of Vertical Farming concepts and practices. This kind of just stacks up older horizontal farming. I don’t see exactly where this helps the local rancher /farmer. Hopefully this facility will provide a venue for research and development too. It sure looks like a lab.
    Providing local produce in a place that has a very short growing season is a huge step forward with this project. Growing food when it is Jackson Hole COOOLD is just incredible. There is the vertical move
    to different growing techniques and new technology modeled here as well. I am looking forward to getting a look at this ! It is very cool AG !!
    Well Done for COMMUNITY folks !!!!

    Reply